The Return of Christ

 Confidence in the Coming of Jesus

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4

The Apostle Paul continues with these things of the coming of the Lord from Chapter three verse thirteen.

As Christians we must be encouraged to know that all saints who have gone before us are resting in the presence of the Lord and we are confident that we will see them again at the coming of the Lord.

There may be differences in the many denominations of Christianity, but the return of Jesus Christ is not one of them.

The return of our Lord Jesus is mentioned more than three hundred times in the New Testament.

There are entire chapters given to the discussion of the return of Christ.

In the Book of Matthew Chapters 13, 24 and 25.

In the Book of Mark Chapter 13

In the Book of Luke Chapter 21

In this Book of Thessalonians we are studying now, along with Book Two, the majority of these Scriptures deal with the return of the Lord.

Much of the Book of Revelation deals with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ taught us that His return would be a literal, physical event.

Jesus said He would return just as His disciples seen Him depart.

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

Jesus Christ is returning to take those who love Him back home to His Father's house, which is now our home.

Our mortal bodies will be changed to glorified bodies just as His body.

1Jn_3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The truth is, we must always be prepared for the coming of our Lord as it could happen at any moment now.

We are approaching the end of the Church Age which means the destruction of this world is very near.

There will be a New Heaven and a New earth because it is sin that has marred both places, both caused by that person known as Satan who is soon to be bound in Hell which is the place God has designed for him.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, "according to his promise", look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

*****1Th 4:1  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

1Th 4:2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 

This is what the Church calls today, "The Believer's Walk".

Once we are saved, we are to walk to please God!

We are to live as God tells us how to live by keeping God's commandments.

We are to walk in the will of God for our lives.

We are to walk to please God.

We cannot please God without faith in the truth of His Words.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we cannot believe God is who He says He is as described in the Word of God, then we cannot please Him.

If we cannot please Him then He cannot accept us!

*****1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 

1Th 4:5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 

Paul first mentions sanctification of the body.

What is sanctification? It is God's will that we give ourselves to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christianity is a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ!

To be a Christian is not an ornament that we wear, it is a life always progressing in the will of God for our lives.

The love of God is the mightiest power in the life of each Christian.

We know that God is holy and we must strive to be holy to be more like Him.

Sanctification means we are to resist the passion of lust.

Sanctification means that we know how to control our body.

When we begin to lust, then we will soon become enslaved to lust.

The passion of lust is the way of our world today.

This is why there is such a battle for abortion!

People cannot contain their lust so they need to be able to stop the consequences of that lust.

This is why there is such battle for LGBT movement because people cannot contain their lust.

This is not the way of God!

It is the lifestyle of those who do not know God!

Fornication is any sexual act outside the bonds of a marriage between one man and one woman!

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

Concupiscence is intense desire always in a bad sense, the passion for sexual lust.

*****1Th 4:6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 

1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 

1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

There are many reasons we are to live pure lives:

1) Immorality defrauds and cheats a brother or sister in Christ.

It either takes a wife from her husband or it takes a husband from his wife.

We know that most of the time that the trust and affection that were once in that marriage cannot be completely recovered.

That marriage and bond of trust is gone forever!

This same thing effects those who are unmarried when fornication takes place.

2) God shall revenge immorality.

Immorality is accepted and even encouraged in our society today.

How can we say it is encouraged? Look at television and films. Look at advertisements and promotions. Look at the way the world dresses. Listen to suggestive words and actions that are acceptable today.

God is going to judge immoral behavior and we have the example of Sodom and Gomorrah.

3) God did not call us to immorality, God called us to holiness!

God would never call a person to do such things. Immorality may be the greatest destructive force in our world today!

Immorality has destroyed the family model that makes societies prosper.

4) Immorality is a sin against God!

When God despises something, it means He rejects it.

The world says the commandments of God are old fashioned and unacceptable in an intellectual and enlightened society.

It is obvious that our societies have crumbled till they do not exist accept in the minds of the wicked.

The world may not be able to do anything to us if we break the commandments of God, but it is a fact unless we repent, we will receive the full vengeance of a Holy God!

Each true Christian is the home of the Holy Spirit and we must not defile the Holy Spirit, we must keep our bodies holy.

It must be our ambition to please God!

*****1Th 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 

1Th 4:10  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

As we arise every morning the first thought we should have is to please God in our actions each day.

The word used for brotherly love in the Greek is "Philadelphia".

We now that there is a city in America named Philadelphia which was at one time known as the city of "brotherly love".

But brotherly love is the love that is required in the Church just as it is in our families.

Brotherly love is that love of Christians to Christians all around this world.

We cannot allow this world to divide us and it cannot if we all have that same message that comes by the Word of God.

There is only "One Word of God" and it is not to be altered!

Brotherly love is that love that shows this wicked world the love we have within the Church of the Living God!

This is a love that cannot fail because it is a love that should be growing within each of us!

This love “Philadelphia” comes from God to each Christian but our preachers still need to remind us of this love because we need each other to make it through this life we have now before we go home to be with the Lord.

Heaven will be a place of brotherly love.

It is not always easy to show brotherly love in this corrupt world we live in where love is interpreted as "lust".

As Christians we need that strong bond of brotherly love in order to stand against the temptations and our walk through the sufferings of this life.

The greatest threat to the Church is the internal strife that comes as we allow the world to come into the Church and dictate a false narrative.

The Church is sinking today because of worldly philosophies that cause confusion.

Our world is not billions of years old.

Humans have not evolved from monkeys or any other species.

Our climate has been changing from day one.

Why will all these great scientist not tell you that if all pollution is removed from our atmosphere, it will be so hot that we will not be able to live outdoors?

There is always a need to grow increasingly in the Lord and grow more and more in His love for us that we can show to each other.

This great church of the Thessalonians were noted for the love they showed throughout all of Macedonia.

*****1Th 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 

1Th 4:12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 

What is it to study to be quiet?

We are to put forth the effort to live quiet and peaceable lives.

At the same time, we inflict a real loss to society if we do not speak for the truth, but allow those to say too much who need to say very little or say nothing at all.

This is why there is so much filth in our world today because the Church has been too quiet.

The wicked voices of immorality are speaking the loudest today and they have bent the ears of our liberal government.

We must certainly put forth the effort to live quiet and peaceable lives, but there are times we must take a stand.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, "that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day", and having done all, "to stand".

It is our duty to mind our own business, but it is also our duty to take care of our families.

We are not to be busybodies nor meddle in the affairs of others nor try to change the direction of this world.

Our job remains to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ and take a stand on the truth of God.

If we do this, the Holy Spirit will certainly do what He came upon this earth to do.

If we cannot keep our own affairs straight, then how could we ever change the affairs of others.

We must avoid looking like we are everybody's judge!

If we commit our lives to the truth of the Word of God, we will not have time to meddle in the affairs of others.

We need to work with our own hands to supply the needs of our families so we do not become a burden to the Church.

Very few people have any respect for those who are able to work, but refuse to do so, insisting that someone else should be providing for them.

God has no patience for those who will not work!

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

2Th_3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

As Christians, we must set the example for working to provide our own needs being able then, to help others who are unable to provide for themselves, but not for those who have the ability to provide for themselves and refuse to do so.

We have far too many things to consider in our lives than to worry about our fellow brothers and sisters and family who have gone on before us.

*****1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

Paul continues with the subject of the return of Jesus Christ.

The same Bible that tells us how to be saved, also teaches us how live throughout eternity with our Savior.

This same Bible that teaches us how we are to live in this life and be good Christians.

This is also the same Bible that tells us of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus will return to this earth to claim all believers to Himself!

Most of the world rejects that there will be an afterlife upon our death, but the world is wrong again.

At the moment of our death, our soul returns to be with our Savior.

2Co_5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

How do we know this? 

2Co_4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

The Lord Jesus has resurrection power!

When that soul gets to Heaven there will also be given a temporary body.

Rev_6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

You cannot put a robe upon a soul or a spirit.

We should understand that every Christian alive, and all those who have already gone to Heaven, will gather together with the Lord Jesus when we meet Him in the clouds.

We must not be ignorant of the power of the resurrection of Christ!

The fact of the Lord's return should arouse concern in us for our family members who are not saved, some friends that are not saved, and for the lost in general.

There is absolutely no hope for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ, but for the believer, our hope is in the Lord.

*****1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

No doubt that everyone who goes down by the graveyard a loved one will grieve for them because someone we love is no longer with us.

Our grief will be easier to take, when we know that we will see them again and we will live together throughout eternity in a place where even paradise is not a good enough word to describe it.

All our brothers and sisters in Christ will return with Him when He returns.

This passage is proof that all departed believers are already with Jesus in Heaven.

We do not have to wonder where they are!

To be asleep in Jesus, is not some semi-conscious state or some form of deep sleep as some believe.

Sleep is only a soft word used by believers to describe our departure from this world.

It could be said that while we are asleep in Jesus, then we are no longer suffering from the persecutions of this world.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

If we have trusted the Lord in our life time, we can certainly trust in the Lord when we leave this world behind!

We can never die because our Lord Jesus has already died in our place!

This is one of the reasons that there had to be cross in the life of Our Savior.

The body of each believer will first be raised before those who are alive and remain are called to meet the Lord in the air.

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

How can we have doubt in the return of Jesus Christ, when He has said so many times that He will certainly return to take us all home to be with Him in the New Heaven.

*****1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be "caught up together" with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When we deny the return of Jesus Christ we are calling Him a liar.

The Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory will descend from Heaven in that same glorified human body that He ascended back to Heaven.

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

The Lord Jesus is not returning as a lowly shepherd, but in the Majesty and in Divine power that He alone possesses.

We need only remember that day when our Lord called Lazarus from his tomb.

Joh_11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

When the Lord shouts this time, He will just shout come forth "My" people.

Or if we remember the Hebrew weddings in that day and the parable of the ten virgins. "Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 

We can be sure that every child of God will hear this shout even those in the grave.

There will be no unbeliever who will be resurrected at this time for that resurrection occurs on the day of "judgment".

This is what we know of as the White Throne Judgment.

Even the remnants of that believer that has been in the grave for many years will be reunited with that part that has been in Heaven for many years.

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Every believer will hear the shout of our Lord because He is the Captain of our salvation!

Those believers who are alive at the moment of His arrival will then be changed.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

If we are to live with God in His realm, then we must have a body fashioned after His body as no flesh can live in the New Heaven.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

That phrase "caught up together" gives us the meaning of the Rapture.

That word "caught" implies, "seized, snatched up by an irresistible force" to be with our Savior amid the clouds such as happened on the day of the transfiguration of our Lord.

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

So shall we ever be with the Lord!

It is on this wonderful day that we will finally reach perfection!

We will meet all the saints of God who had gone on before us.

We will be reunited with our loved ones and friends who have gone before us.

We will see the Lord Jesus face to face.

We will meet the God of all creation who had this masterful plan of our salvation.

Joh 8:51  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 

We will never see death because the Lord Jesus Himself died in our place.

Amen

Preaching the Gospel

 Marks of Paul's Ministry

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2

What seems to be the problem with the Church today, is the fact that there are not enough strong preachers who preach the Word of God as the truth that it is.

It seems that far too many have their own concept of what the Word of God is teaching.

Many of them just tickle the ears of those in the pews so they can pad their pockets and keep their job.

God teaches us that we are not to have our own interpretation of the Word of God!

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

Not one of the prophets of God came by their own interpretation of what God was saying.

They wrote down exactly what God was telling them to write and they were guided by the Holy Spirit to make sure what they wrote was the message that God intended for us to have.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It is not the preacher's job to interpret what God is saying, it is the preacher’s job to explain what God is saying.

Neh_8:8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Too many so-called preachers are just preaching their own version of the Bible when God said not to do that.

What were some of the marks of the ministry of the Apostle Paul?

*****1Th 2:1  For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 

1Th 2:2  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 

If we look at the city of Thessalonica, we can see the same things happening then are still happening in our own nation today.

Those that reject the Word of God were trying to convince the general public that the preaching of Jesus Christ would destroy their freedoms and affect their jobs and businesses, when the fact is that this is far from the truth.

We know that Paul had to flee from Thessalonica to save his life.

The Word of God did not flee, so the attacks upon the Church and its believers continued.

Since the persecutors could not get to Paul, they then attempted to destroy his reputation.

In America today we see that there is an attempt to destroy the Church.

In fact, these people have become so bold they attempt to destroy anyone and everyone who stands against their wicked and immoral ways.

Not much has changed in this sinful world as we approach the same sinful ways the days before the flood and the days of Lot.

Again the Word of God did not flee and the Church at Thessalonica prospered for many years.

The Word of God cannot be destroyed nor can the true Church with the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Paul could not go to Thessalonica, he wrote the two books to this church that bear their name.

We also know that the writings of Paul were also shared with every church.

The Holy Spirit included these letters in what is known as the New Testament today.

Paul knew how the unbelievers liked to exaggerate the lies that they proposed, and stirred up as many problems for the Church as they could and we still see these same tactics today.

The tactics of the Devil do not have to change because most people want to do as they please rather than live righteously.

People are only concerned about themselves and not anyone else.

The Lord Jesus is our example in how to live righteously.

The Apostle Paul can be our example in how to serve in the ministry of God.

The Apostle Paul was good Church Planter because the Word of God is true and the cause of Christ is real.

The faith of the true Church is valid!

We are truly saved and our names are truly written down in the Lamb's Book of Life in Heaven!

Heaven is a real place just as Hell is a real place.

These things are real because they are true!

The message of the Apostle Paul was not empty, ineffective, or fruitless, because the message of the Lord Jesus Christ is a real message because it is a true message.

When we live for Jesus Christ were are living in reality!

The "fruit" of the "Gospel" is permanent and cannot be changed by this world.

The "Tempter" the Devil, may ruin our testimony if we succumb to his tricks, but he cannot change our outcome.

A good preacher will preach boldly the truth of God because he knows it is the truth.

A good preacher will preach boldly the truth of God even when he is opposed by those in the pews.

Thank God for our Pastor!

The Apostle Paul was opposed in every city he went to, but it did not change his message.

Those who change their message because of opposition to it, are then liars and no longer have the truth.

Bold preaching is one proof of a strong preacher.

Bold preaching is to preach the truth of God and not to concentrate on those who oppose his message because there will always be those who oppose it.

Those that oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ will also break the laws of the land to do so.

Act 16:37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 

Act 16:38  And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 

It was not an easy task to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles in Europe.

The secret of the bold preacher is that they always preach the message that the Holy Spirit has given to them!

Without the power of the Holy Spirit there are no true preachers!

*****1Th 2:3  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

When we speak the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, we know we are speaking the truth!

The Word of God is free from all that is false and impure.

It is true Christians that make brave Christians.

To exhort, is to incite which is good and that which is commendable according to the dictionary.

Listen to Jeremiah: Jer 4:14  O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? 

Paul wrote to the Colossian Church: Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 

Col 1:4  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 

Col 1:5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the few truths that is left in this wicked world that is so full of deceit.

No one even expects to hear the truth anymore, especially from our politicians.

We do not get the truth from our news sources, or from our government, nor is the truth taught in our schools anymore.

The truth is being erased from all documents because the truth will upset too many people and change the narrative of our government which strives on deceit!

The Gospel stands out as the eternal truth of the Living Unchanging God!

The bold Preacher preaches a pure "Gospel", and lives a clean life, and certainly does not deceive the people of God!

The bold preacher does not follow the latest theological fashion in order to appear up to date with some so-called modern "Gospel".

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is pure and needs to be preached as pure.

No preacher has the right to change the message of God!

Every wicked rumor about the Apostle Paul proved to be false.

I can assure you, if we hear an immoral rumor about our own Pastor, you can bet it is a false rumor and should be ignored and our Pastor defended.

The Apostle Paul was sincere and genuine and he preached the truth so that people could be truly saved and their names written down in Heaven.

Paul preached for the glory of God and not for any personal glory which none of us have.

If we are not trying to please God then we are not who we say we are!

Most people do not want to hear about sin and judgment, but these are facts.

Most people do not want to hear that the Lord Jesus is the only path to Heaven, but it is a fact.

Most people do not want to hear that we are to commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is the truth.

Preaching the truth is not very popular, but a bold preacher will not tone down his message to appease those before him.

It is God's "Gospel" and it will be God who will judge that one He has called to preach that Gospel"!

Those that reject the truth of God are already doomed to Hell!

Every child of God will give an account of the ministry God has given to us, even that bold preacher.

It is God which tries our hearts to see if we have deviated from the truth of the Gospel!

This should frighten those who preach a false gospel, but they are not believers themselves and most of them are just in it for the money and the true Judge will eventually get them in His court and their judgment will be terrible.

*****1Th 2:5  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 

1Th 2:6  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 

That word "flattery" used in this Scripture implies compliments that are given in order to get something out of people.

Paul refused to flatter people in order to secure their friendship or their following, or their support!

Paul's message was that "we are all sinners".

Paul did commend many people and we read about those things in every epistle that he has written.

Paul said God was his witness to this truth.

The Apostle Paul was accused of being in the ministry of the Lord because of His greed, so Paul supported himself all his days by menial work.

Every church that Paul established in the Lord knew this to be true.

We should understand that there is much in the word of God that is distasteful to the unbeliever, and it is because they do not understand God's purpose for including these things in the Scriptures.

Even if the Word of God was considered to be perfect in the world, there would be many who would find fault in what God has said to us.

The Word of God exposes our depraved sin nature and our helplessness against the Devil.

The Word of God exposes us to some mysteries that the world says God should explain.

The Word of God has only one "judgment" for sin, when the world sees minor sin and major sin.

The Word of God says it is the truth of our world, yet earthly science rejects this truth because they reject the Divine God.

Just because the world objects to the truth of the Lord Jesus, our God, it does not make it any less true!

The strong Pastor and preacher does not minister for glory, nor for prestige, nor for authority.

They seek only to please the God that called them into His service.

This should be true of every child of God!

It is only the false preacher that has a selfish ambition.

The "Gospel" belongs to the Lord Jesus!

He is indeed the Author of our salvation!

There is no other "gospel" for mankind!

As a wise man once said, "The Gospel is that Star by which we can navigate through the Sea of Life and land upon the Shores of Eternity".

Those that preach the true "Gospel" are not angels nor can they ever be!

An angel knows nothing of the passions and the feelings of being a human. 

Angels cannot understand the trials and temptations that we go through.

The "Gospel" must be preached by men such as Paul and Silas and James and the others called of God.

Men cannot be preachers who become Christians.

Preachers must first be Christians who have been called of God to preach the Gospel.

They must be sincere and bold because they preach the only truth of this world.

The Gospel contains no false theories, no wild imaginations, and no empty speculations!

The "Gospel" is the truth of our Creator and His message of truth for our eternal salvation!

*****1Th 2:7  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 

1Th 2:8  So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 

This word nurse as used here means a nursing mother and not some baby sitter.

Most every mother are like a nurse to their children, especially that new born babe.

Paul said this is the same way he was around those who were at that time babes in Christ.

This is the same way the Lord Jesus is around all His children.

This is the same thought of our Heavenly Father as He looks down upon us from Heaven!

There is no better way to describe the love that the Lord has for us.

The Apostle Paul had a mother-like affection for all those babes in Christ in Thessalonica because this is the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat_23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

That hen is a fitting example of a nursing mother who will shield her babies from all the evils of this world.

This was the way of Paul and all the Apostles and more important this is the way of our Heavenly Father who sent His Son, the Messiah, Jesus to provide us with Heaven's Security.

The Apostle Paul sacrificed all his personal goals and any private life to be that "mother hen" to the Churches he planted.

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

This is the same gentleness and patient endurance that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ!

A good Christian is that person who uses utmost gentleness to have utmost strength in serving in that place where the Lord has placed us.

These are things we must consider if we are going to serve in the will of God for our lives!

This is the love that is the power of the good preacher.

I thank God for the Pastor God has placed in my life who expresses the love of God to all he meets.

*****1Th 2:9  For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 

The strong and true pastor preaches and ministers, laboring night and day.

Such was the Apostle Paul!

Paul was the servant of Christ Jesus trying to meet the desperate needs of this world and reach men and woman with the truth of the Gospel.

Paul only slept and rested only as he needed.

What did Paul mean when he said he would not be chargeable to any man?

Paul meant that every true called man of God has the blood of the world upon his hands, and will be held accountable for getting the message of Christ out to them.

That message was that they can be saved from death and receive eternal life.

Eze 33:8  When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 

Eze 33:9  Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 

The Gospel is the greatest "Good News" that has even been conceived but the Gospel is also "a warning" to all those who would reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To the Apostle Paul the work he was doing was a labor of love.

2Th 3:8  Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 

2Th 3:9  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

These things took a toll on the Apostle Paul but he never quit on God.

2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 

2Co 11:28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 

Paul was a tent maker by trade and this work was most always available.

By supporting himself, Paul was free to direct his own movements and raised himself above evil suspicions.

It was sometimes a telling thing when Paul would raise his hands in worship of the Lord showing the hands of tentmaker blackened from that work.

Act 20:34  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

No one could accuse the Apostle Paul of preaching for money.

It is also true that the preacher must lead an impeccable life.

*****1Th 2:10  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 

1Th 2:11  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 

1Th 2:12  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 

Paul lived a holy life before God after his conversion. A life separated from the world and set apart totally to God.

Paul lived a just and righteous life before men. A life that loved and treated men just as God said and just as he wanted to be treated himself.

Paul lived a blameless life before both God and man!

Paul told these Thessalonians that they were his witnesses to these truths.

It was not just Paul but those with Him, which would include Silas and Timothy and we know that Luke traveled with Paul much of the time and there were others.

We should understand that even in the day of Paul the world just did not want to hear the truth.

As Christians it is important that we walk worthy of God and this is a very high standard.

We must walk in harmony with the Word of God.

In today's world the Word of God has not changed, but those who will walk in harmony with the Word of God are not as many.

It is the same reason; the world just does not want to hear the truth.

They foolishly believe that they have no purpose, but to sin and they reject that there is life after death.

The best witness tool we have as Christians is the lifestyle we live!

The governments of today insists that parents of today do not know how to raise their children.

I submit to you that those governments do not want our children to know the truth and they certainly do not know how to raise our children.

It takes a good father to lead his family and our Heavenly Father gives us the example that we need to follow through His Son and His Word.

The Bible is about the family and it only works when we are in the family of God our Father.

We are invited to enter into God's Kingdom while we are on this earth and we can participate in its blessing, but we also know that we will one day live in God's Heavenly World.

The world teaches that society is made by groups when the Lord Jesus teaches that society is made by each loving individual.

As a father who earnestly gives his children the right guidance and the right instructions, this was the way of the Apostle Paul because this is the way of our Heavenly Father.

"Walking" should mean that we are on the path of the Lord and making steady progress in serving the Lord.

What did God tell Abraham?

Gen_17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; "walk before me, and be thou perfect".

This has never changed and as the children of God our Father we are to follow this same path!

We must continue to press forward in the name of the Lord!

Php_3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

We seem to sometimes forget that we already have a place reserved for us in Heaven!

Jesus Christ requires that we live a Christian life.

Jesus Christ requires that we live as He did.

Jesus Christ enables us if we truly follow Him to live.

Without Jesus we cannot live a Christian life!

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

We must understand that the Word of God is the ultimate truth of this world.

*****1Th 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 

A strong people will receive the Word of God as the Word of God!

It takes people to proclaim the Word of God.

No one can get the Word of God without someone else having a part in taking that Word of God to them.

This is the function of the Church.

This is the reason for giving away Bibles.

This is the reason for our tract ministry.

This is why we witness!

This Church in Thessalonica believed it.

The Apostle Paul believed it.

Those that traveled with Paul believed it.

I believe it.

Do you believe it?

Most of this world only believe that the Scriptures were all given by some man and they cannot be further from the truth.

Most of this world believe that the Old Testament is nothing but a book of fables, yet they will believe the lies writings such as those of Karl Marx.

Most believe that the New Testament just tells us what the Apostles believed about Jesus, when much of it is written by eyewitnesses to His existence.

The Bible proclaims it is the Word of God.

The fact of the unity of the Scriptures, written by so many different men over such a vast amount of time could not have been completed unless it came from one mind.

These Scriptures have change millions of lives for God.

God can speak only the truth and it is the truth we need, not a pack of lies by our own government and a reckless society.

We must understand that the Supreme Authority for accepting the Word of God is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 

Joh 5:40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 

Jesus Christ was a historical person.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The Bible is the Word of God!

The Bible is what we are to base our faith upon.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It is time we based our life on the truth and not the lies of this world!

Amen

Faith Is Still the Key to the Gospel

 Paul's Ministry In Rome

Book of Acts Chapter 28

The Apostle Paul made it to Rome simply because the Lord God of all creation decided that Paul would be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ in Rome.

The Book to the Roman Christian Church had been written three years before the arrival of the Apostle Paul.

Many people wanted to see the man who wrote this great epistle.

Of course we know that it was the Holy Spirit who gave Paul the scriptures to use.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Many times Paul had to dictate the words that were written down by some other Christian.

Paul was treated with respect probably because Julius the Roman Centurion had been saved by the advice of Paul during that great storm.

Paul was bound by one chain to one guard but allowed to stay in a house that was rented for him.

Paul used every opportunity to spread the gospel even to the many guards as they relieved each other.

No doubt Paul was well known to the Roman guards also because of the things that happened on this trip to Rome.

**How did Paul reach Rome? It was because of his faith in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

**It was an answer to his prayers!

This may seem a strange way for God to answer a prayer, but the ways of God are unknown to the world.

Isa_55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

The promise of God was much more than just fulfilled. Paul had much to witness through his trials and his work to get there.

Paul had been through great trials, but he had been saved by great deliverances from those trials.

Paul had written:

Rom 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 

Rom 1:14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 

Rom 1:15  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The story of Paul's imprisonment had gone before him.

Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 

Rom 1:10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 

Rom 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 

Paul had made that prosperous journey.

Notice that this was not a onetime prayer, but Paul prayed without ceasing.

We should notice that the Church was already established in Rome before Paul got there.

*****Act 28:14  Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 

Act 28:15  And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. 

Act 28:16  And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 

Paul was anxious for his fellow Christians to be exposed to the dangers that are out in the world.

Those dangers to Christians still exist today!

According to records, Paul arrived in Rome in the spring of A.D. 61, and he dwelt two years in his own rented house and it seems that Paul went back to the mission field again and his beheading came at a later date.

After three days’ rest, Paul called the chief of the Jews to his residence.

We should be able to see that there is nothing and no one in this world that can stop the spread of the Gospel.

It is our Holy God who will decide if the Gospel has gone to all the places, He has intended for it to go!

*****Act 28:17  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

The Apostle Paul had entered Rome, the then capitol of the world, as a prisoner.

His first step was to contact the Jewish religious leadership.

Paul turns himself for the last time to his Jewish people with an explanation.

For the rest of his short life he reached out only to the Gentiles!

Paul wanted them to know that under Roman Law, he was innocent, and he was not charged for breaking Roman laws.

Paul said he had not committed any wrong against the nation of Israel and he would be free if not for false accusations.

Paul had been dealt an injustice by his own nation, just because he believed in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he believed in the truth of all the Scriptures.

Paul had a great desire to reach Rome, to evangelize this wicked city, but mainly to ensure the spiritual growth of the Christian Church.

Discipleship seems to be the missing ingredient in most churches today, along with worldly compromise coming from the pulpits of most churches.

It was not much different in the days of the Apostle Paul; it is just more widespread.

We should notice that even after the ordeal Paul had been through, he still did not rest but went straight into the work of the Lord.

**We could say that Paul's coming to Rome was an answer to Paul's prayers.

Paul was a prisoner in the company of criminals.

The story of Paul's imprisonment had gone before him from this came sympathy from God's children.

Some powerful Roman officials now had great regard for the Apostle Paul, including Julius the Centurion and many soldiers.

Paul had now experienced the truth of God's promises and we all should take notice.

Paul had shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ while this terrible trip was taking place.

Paul was an innocent man seeking only to please God.

Notice how much that Paul tried to be like the Lord Jesus who was also innocent of all charges, who spent all his days reveling the Gospel and the truth of God, because he is God.

In those first three days Paul had secured a private home even still being bound to a Roman soldier.

He had now had his meeting with the Jewish leaders in Rome and gave his testimony.

*****Act 28:18  Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 

Act 28:19  But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 

Act 28:20  For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 

Paul knew how valuable it would be for a Christian presence in Rome.

From Jerusalem came the Law of God.

From Rome came the law of Satan.

Some say that this is still true.

You have to make your own personal trip to the cross of Jesus to understand these things.

Paganism still has a long reach but so does the Gospel and the Gospel will go to where God intends it, and the Gospel will succeed in the way God intends it.

Everyone will get an opportunity to hear the truth of the Gospel because this is the will of God!

We are all called to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ in this evil world that is not getting better but just the opposite, it is getting worse.

Can the Gospel change the world? Sure it can, but Satan has a strangle hold on this world and he is in his own last days, and he is spreading more evil and more wickedness and even more immorality, before his time expires and he is locked away for a thousand years.

This world should stop long enough to witness the truth of God unfold day by day, but the lies of climate change along with the immorality of the homosexuals and the transgender movement, and the threat of war and the collapse of the monetary systems keeps the world rulers occupied.

Satan is a defeated foe, but no one ever said the Devil was stupid.

Paul was an innocent man and Paul defended himself before a Jerusalem mob, a chief captain of Rome, the Sanhedrin Court, Felix, Festus, King Agrippa II and now the Jews of Rome.

How did these Jews respond?

*****Act 28:21  And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 

Act 28:22  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. 

Act 28:23  And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Paul received an open invitation to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was the Lord Jesus Christ who had brought the Kingdom of God to Earth, just so He could take all believers to Heaven to present them to His Heavenly Father.

Mat 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 

Mat 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 

Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The Apostle Paul was just one of those laborers!

Paul focused his preaching on the Word of God alone.

There is nothing in this world that can be used to save the soul of the lost except its wickedness!

What truth is the Gospel based upon?

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

Paul preached that it was the same Lord Jesus who would return to take His children home to Heaven.

As are normal, some believed the Word of God, and some rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

As they began to leave. Paul could not allow them to leave without a warning from the same truths of the Word of God.

*****Act 28:24  And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 

Act 28:25  And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 

Act 28:26  Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 

Act 28:27  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Act 28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 

Act 28:29  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

We see the same things that happen today. Some people believe and some do not and there is no third choice.

Notice how Paul speaks with the same thoughts that God had given to Isaiah.

One of those thoughts reads:

Isa_49:6  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

What was wrong with these elders and those members of the Sanhedrin Court?

They heard the Word of God every Sabbath, but they did not try to understand what God was saying and none of the elders tried to explain it to them.

Only in the time of Ezra do we read where he made sense of the Word of God.

Remember the Jews had killed most all of God's prophets because they rejected the truth of Jehovah God.

We need to take the time to study the Word of God ourselves and to study is much more than to just read the Bible.

Notice how Paul tells these people that it is the Holy Ghost who gave Isaiah the words he had written.

What was the biggest problem with these Jews?

Their hearts had waxed gross! 

These people had become so involved in carnal and temporal things they had become hardened to the Divine and Spiritual things.

We can see again that nothing has really changed in nearly two thousand years.

Even, here in the Bible Belt, we know that many have become dull to hearing the Word of God and I am sure the patience of the Lord is wearing thin and when His patience reaches a certain amount, He will return to take His Church out of this world.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Then Paul said to these Jews, if you will not believe what the Lord has said, then the Word of God would go to the Gentiles and many of them would believe.

Paul said this is one part of the Bible you had better understand because your salvation depends upon it!

These Jews could not understand that Jehovah Himself had proclaimed that His ministers were to turn to the Gentiles when the Jews would not listen.

This was not something new, God had made the Word of God to be understood before He began His creating of this universe.

This is something the Holy Trinity had decided before time began!

Look in the Book of Genesis for the words "let us" and see that the Holy Trinity was been involved in the truth of God since our Creation.

Paul simply told these Jews that the Prophet Isaiah, a prophet these Jews admired, had written that these things would happen so, now the Jews only include a portion of the Book of Isaiah in their own Scriptures.

This is also the same today. People just remove the parts of the Bible they refuse to believe, how foolish!

You see if the Gospel cannot touch the heart, then it will not be accepted.

These people had a heart of rock and not a heart that could be reached by the true Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is from the heart that this grossness reaches the mind.

Jer_17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Anyone who willfully rejects the truth of Jehovah experiences a judicial blindness and rejection by Jehovah.

All those who deliberately choose to remain blind to the truth of God and who reject the Lord's understanding are given over to a justified punishment which is also written down in the Bible.

When you reject any part of the Word of God you will be rejected by the Writer who is God Holy Spirit.

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 

God gave Noah 120 years to preach to the world but not one was saved beyond Noah's own family!

Not much of the world is listening to the Word of God today!

Those days of Noah are upon us again today.

Mat_24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luk_17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

There is nothing stronger than these things that are said in the Scriptures.

Why is the Lord Jesus Christ rejected?

1) Hardening their hearts to the truth.

2) Deafening their ears to the truth.

2) Closing their eyes to the truth.

2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Psa 52:3  Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. 

The Lord Jesus explained it this way:

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

Joh 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 

Joh 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

It is tragic that the Word of God is so easily rejected by those who believe what the world is saying, when few politicians will even get near the truth themselves.

*****Act 28:30  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 

Act 28:31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. 

Though these things bothered the Apostle Paul, he continued to serve the Lord.

Paul received anyone who wanted to know the truth, but it was also during this time that Paul, by the same Holy Spirit as Isaiah, authored more books of the New Testament.

Till the day Paul died he preached the coming of the kingdom of God and all things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was confident that the message of the Gospel is all we need to reach Heaven's Gates.

No one in Rome at this time tried to stop the Apostle Paul from preaching the Gospel.

Most of the Jews wanted nothing to do with Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ that he preached.

All those Jews now are believers because they are in the Hell that is also the truth of the Gospel along with all unbelievers at that time.

Everyone in Hell now fully believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but it is too late for them.

Paul spent as much time making disciples as he did preach the Gospel. This is something that seems to be forgotten today in most churches.

The Book of Acts began with a few believers and this hand full of believers continued to serve the Lord, and the Gospel had now made it to the Capital City of the entire world.

Sometimes the Gospel has flown freely and sometimes the Gospel has been silently counterfeited by false teachers who have infiltrated the Church.

The Word of God is sometimes added to and sometimes parts of it have been deleted.

The Gospel has never been stopped and neither is this possible!

Mortal man cannot stop the Word of God.

If we open the Word of God today, we can see how it perfectly describes this world we live in today.

Believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved!

Reject the Gospel and see the wrath of the All-Powerful God.

Amen

The Providence of God

 Protection in a Stormy Voyage

Book of Acts Chapter 27

We seem to forget that when God gives us something to do, that He will keep us safe until we have accomplished what He gave us to do. This does not mean we will not suffer. 

The Lord had told Paul in a vision that he would testify in Rome and nothing in this world could stop this from happening, as long as Paul put forth the effort to do so. Paul would never quit on God even though it nearly costs him his life many times.

What had God told Paul? That he would be a witness for the Gospel in Rome.

Act 23:11  And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

It is at this point that Paul should have realized that he was going to Rome under the providence of God, and nothing in this world could stop this from happening.

When Paul appealed his case to Caesar, Festus had no legal choice, but to send Paul to Rome because this was Paul's right as a Roman citizen.

We sometimes make good plans for the things in our lives, but our plans will always be what the Lord has planned for our lives, and we will always be better for it.

We sometimes seem to forget the power of God.

I believe this is why this story is in the Bible.

Jehovah God controls all aspects of what happens to us as we live upon this earth.

We read of a great storm in the Mediterranean Sea and just how powerless we are as humans to endure such things in nature.

Now we already know that God does not cause the terrible things that happen in this world, but He does not always stop them from happening when He certainly has the power to do so.

Paul would make a safe journey to Rome though it would be a rough journey.

Paul was traveling with hardened soldiers and men of the sea, who did not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Maybe God allowed all these things to happen just so some of them would recognize that there is a God and He was the God of the Apostle Paul and some of them would be saved.

Unlike Jonah who was running away from God, Paul was running to God, but both were under the control of the providence of God.

God will have His way with us!

God will also test us in many ways!

As Christians we must trust that God will do as He says He will do.

We must know that God does not ever make a mistake. (Not Ever)

God does care for us.

1Pe_5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

So far, Paul's keepers had made the right decisions on this trip to Rome.

Those captains of those ships had also used their knowledge of the Seas to do the right things.

Where they would fail is when the man of God, Paul, gave good advice and they ignored the Word of God, but God still did not allow even one man to lose his life.

There were certain times of the year when the Mediterranean Sea was more dangerous than at other times.

This proved to be true, as Paul sailed toward Rome as a prisoner but still a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Act 27:14  But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

As Christians in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will find that the winds are not always favorable to our Christian journey.

We may find many fair havens.

These fair havens may not meet the desires of the world but are just a refuge from those storms.

Many will leave these places just because of their distance from the world when they are the safest places to stay.

To the Christian, our fair haven is the Bible believing Church.

When we are driven to a haven such as this, let us be content because the Church exists by of the "Grace" of God.

It is the ways of sin that are too easy, not the path of God, but the path of God leads to Heaven the fairest of all havens.

Paul never admits to being a sailor because he was a land man with no knowledge of the seas, but he did have the mind of Christ.

We find that men of the sea (the world) do not like land men (Paul the Christian) to interfere in the affairs of the sea (society).

We can find many types of biblical learning in these things of the Apostle Paul, and we can see how they affected all the books that he wrote led by the Holy Spirit.

A Euroclydon would be a typhoon like wind. This wind from the south could at times turn to be from the north with the same destructive power and it is these storms that last so long such as the fourteen days in this lesson from the Book of Acts.

A Euroclydon is now called Levanter but has the power of a typhoon.

These winds would not carry this ship in one direction but would be tossing them backward and forward.

*****Act 27:15  And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 

There was no way to control the direction of the ship so they just allowed the ship to go wherever it would go. 

The ship was out of their control and was in the hands of God.

This is what happens when we try to leave Satan's control for the hand of God.

This ship was in the hands of God before the storm, but they did not recognize it. 

Remember, God told Paul he would preach in Rome.

We should understand that danger is always a test of character!

The impulse of self-preservation is so strong, it will defeat itself and many will die that could otherwise be saved.

Paul was safe because the Lord had said he would remain safe.

Paul was the valuable property of the immortal Jehovah God.

Paul had resources of strength and comfort that those around him did not have except maybe the Christians that traveled with him such as Luke.

Paul now became a comforter and an adviser to all this ship.

The promises of God will always be fulfilled!

*****Act 27:16  And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 

Act 27:17  Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. 

Clauda was a small island off the southwest coast of Crete and one of the last places they could still recognize as the storm became fiercer.

Those things called “helps” were big ropes or cables passed under the ship and secured on both sides to keep the timbers from separating.

This also means this was an old ship as ship building had already improved a great deal at this time.

These quick sands were huge sand banks on the shores of the Gulf of Sidra on the coasts of Tripoli and another on the coast of Tunis or Carthage. These were a known source of danger to mariners because of their shifting sands and cross currents.

Remember this ship had left Fair Havens because of a southernly wind but they had sailed close to the shorelines to avoid as much of those winds as possible.

It was a rough voyage.

*****Act 27:18  And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 

Act 27:19  And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 

On this second day they set about throwing the cargo overboard.

This cargo was probably corn from Alexandria Egypt to Italy and its load would have been very heavy and its removal would have made the ship much safer.

For this ship to throw its tackle overboard, then we can believe this ship was taking on water and in danger of going down early in this storm.

It also shows us the experience of the captain of this ship.

Even Paul and those with him helped to throw these things overboard, because the danger of sinking was so great.

They were now on their third day of this storm.

Paul had tried to warn those in charge of the coming danger.

We know that few are listening to the Christians today. 

Few are paying attention to the dangers that lie ahead as we approach the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) We as Christians will also suffer through these things but financial gains will not be of much value in the last days.

2) We as Christians know that if our ship goes down, the body in which we dwell, our souls will be saved.

3) We as Christians know that no matter how far we drift, God knows where to find us. Sometimes we may even be immortal until the promise of God is fulfilled as was Paul.

4) When we as Christians are praying, it may be more important than all the work of the ship’s crew. Paul was pursuing his duty as a Christian.

5) When we as Christians are in such danger, we will always be more at peace than those who do not have a relationship with the Lord.

6) We as Christians may lose the sight of the natural sun and the star, but we will never lose sight of the Divine Son of God and the Star of Bethlehem.

It is extremely dangerous to ignore the warnings of God!

All of a sudden, they were sailing in almost total darkness.

*****Act 27:20  And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

Act 27:21  But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 

We can say without a doubt that this ship, this crew, and Paul did not know where they were.

They were desperately lost at sea.

Again, I can imagine that many lessons in typology have been taken from this passage.

It was only natural that a sense of hopelessness would come over the crew of the ship, but also just as true that Paul and those who traveled with him did not feel this hopelessness.

God always knows where his children are located, and God is always in touch with His children, no matter where they are located!

Many days had now passed, yet this storm was still raging.

This is the same thing that sin does. Sin begins anew every day and has no end without the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the way died to pay the debt of all sinners.

 The man of God, the Apostle Paul had the answer to hopelessness!

The Christian should have courage in all situations!

The trials of life will not break us down if we truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!

1) Paul first proclaimed their failure in listening to the Word of God.

Paul had warned that if they continued to follow the course of pleasure and greed, they would run the risk of loss and doom, of hurt and damage, but worldly people always have their own wrong answers.

Paul led by the Holy Spirit had warned those in charge of the ship.

Act 27:9  Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 

Act 27:10  And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 

2) Paul proclaimed God's promise.

God had promised that all on board would be saved if they would obey God's messenger.

This is all we have! We have the Word of God to be given to all the world and it is the Word of Truth.

Jehovah God is the only true God all other so-called gods are false!

This ship sailed with the idols of false gods, and they had done nothing to save this ship and its crew.

Paul proclaimed his faith in God's promises. 

Paul could not have known that no one would lose their life if not for God the Holy Spirit giving him this knowledge.

*****Act 27:22  And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 

Act 27:23  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 

Act 27:24  Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 

Act 27:25  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 

Act 27:26  Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 

God knows what lies ahead in our daily walk in this life!

3) Paul stated that we all must have faith in the promises of God.

God had spoken to Paul using the many methods He chooses to speak to us, and we can trust the promises that God makes to us.

None of His promises have ever failed!

4) Paul proclaimed that these trials are necessary to prove our trust in the Lord our God.

We all have to listen to the Word of God and make that decision to trust what God has said!

The proof of true faith is enduring until the end of these trials.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

*****Act 27:33  And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 

Fourteen days and nights had passed yet the storm seemed to have no ending.

During the night some of the crew felt like they were close to land so they began to take depth readings and sure enough the water was getting shallower, and they cast out four anchors out the rear of the ship.

In all honesty anchors should be from the front of the ship except under certain conditions.

Why are anchors at the front of the ship? When a boat lies on its anchor, it faces the tide and/or wind. The forces can be fairly high, and so it is necessary to present the minimum cross-sectional area and minimum drag, which is the front of the ship. Therefore, holding the bow up to the tide or wind is the best policy.

This is the same for your fishing boat and your pleasure boat.

Some of the crew attempted to flee by escaping in the ship's boat.

A ship's boat is a utility boat carried by a larger vessel. Ship boats have always provided transport between the shore and other ships.

In the early days of shipping this boat would be used to gather drinking water and to ferry people to the shore.

This little boat could not have brought safety to these men, and they would have died unnecessarily.

Paul brought this to the attention of the Centurion and his soldiers.

What we see is when danger is imminent sometimes it is the Christian that needs to step forward after all we do know the truth and the Lord will never forsake us.

*****Act 27:34  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 

Act 27:35  And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 

Act 27:36  Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 

I can tell you after going through this cancer treatment that eating will sometimes become a duty for survival.

Sometimes we should eat whether we feel like it or not, just because we need our strength for what lies ahead.

This is always true of that food that is the Word of God!

God takes loving care of our souls, but He expects us to take loving care of our bodies!

When Paul gave thanks for this meal, Paul showed that is always time to ask for a blessing even if it was a meal eaten in a hurry.

Once the ship was anchored it was only a matter of time before the ship would break up if this storm did not cease its destructive power.

Once the new day arrived and they could see, they took up the anchors and ran the ship aground where the ship did break up.

In the end by trusting the man of God and the Word of God all those on this ship were saved.

*****Act 27:37  And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 

Fear is something we will all deal with from time to time, but God did not give us the Spirit of Fear. 

So when we are afraid, we did not get that feeling from God.

2Ti_1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This is what most men on this ship saw in the Apostle Paul and it is our example for when things go terrible wrong.

The trials of life will sometimes cause great fear, but we must remember the Lord and the Word of God, and these great examples recorded in the Word of God.

Another thing we should notice there is never a time that we should not ask God for a blessing when we are about to take a meal.

As the messengers of God, we should take charge during these type situations if they arise.

We must believe and trust the Word of God!

We must focus everything upon God's Word and God's Promises!

This is the only way any of us can be saved!

Amen

No Such Thing as Almost a Christian

 Paul Before Agrippa

Book of Acts Chapter 26

Chapter 26 begins with the Apostle Paul in the hearing room of King Herod's palace in Caesarea, standing before the Governor Festus, King Agrippa, and his sister Bernice.

We will see that Paul will give a complete description of his calling.

When we repeat the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are giving to the world the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is what the Lord Jesus asked us all to do.

We cannot be ashamed of the Gospel!

Paul will also give his own testimony and things that concerned his own calling.

Christianity always appears in person.

The Lord Jesus uses human beings as His voice upon this earth and as His legs to take the Gospel to the world.

Christianity must be heard. 

Paul gives his own testimony! We cannot give the testimony of someone else.

If we have nothing to say out of our own conscience, then we cannot be a witness for the Lord.

Our salvation may be between us and the Lord, but our experience in the Gospel is to be in full view of others.

Paul said, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Before Paul was known, he was first called Saul and Saul had been on his way to Damascus to do terrible things just as before we were saved, we were on the wrong road with the wrong purpose in life.

It is the Lord Jesus who brought about a change in Paul, just as He has brought about a change in each and every Christian, no matter where they are located.

Paul said, "I have seen the Light of the Lord Jesus".

It is the Light of Jesus that allows us to see the filth that was in our lives, and that is in this world.

To be a Christian is to have mental illumination and liberation.

Paul said it was on this day on the road to sin that he met the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah God.

*****Act 26:19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 

Act 26:20  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 

Remember, a Godly vision is much different than a dream. Dreams may seem real sometimes, but in a Godly vision all the characters have names, and the characters are real people, and it is as if you were dropped into the middle of something happening that was real because it is real.

God allowed those in these visions to see a future happening that was real. Dreams are just dreams good or bad and some bad ones are called nightmares.

Paul knew he had a Godly vision when he was on the Damascus Road.

This was Paul's call into the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul was obedient to God's call!

The Lord's call was not up for discussion to Paul, and neither should it be to us.

Paul's call was from Heaven, and this is the way we should all see it.

That call from Heaven should override any calling we may think we have in this world!

Paul's vision of the Lord Jesus Christ was so real, that he knew he had seen the Lord Jesus in person just as the other Apostles!

There is no need to seek another's opinion, when we are called of God, we know and understand it is reality!

All the charges against Paul were unjustified because Paul was obedient to the call of God.

We must never break any law when we are obedient to the Lord!

When we are faithful to the Lord we are on the right path, and we will be doing what the Lord wants us to do!

Our job is to let Christianity speak for itself!

We must allow the Word of God to do its job!

It is the Word of God that has the answers to all our questions and all of life's questions!

We may think that our Godly experience is something between ourselves and God, but this is not true.

Paul never thought this because our relationship with God is to be shared with others!

Many times our testimony is the beginning of our conversation with those in the world.

If we are ashamed of our conversion, then we are ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who have met Jesus Christ and have turned away, are running from their call into the ministry!

We cannot eat the Word of God one time, and this be enough.

We must sit down daily at the table of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co_4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

When we dine with the Lord, we are refreshed with His never-ending strength!

When Paul was allowed to speak his defense was that the truth of this world is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord is serious when He calls anyone for reasonable service to the Gospel!

*****Act 26:21  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 

Act 26:22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 

Act 26:23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 

Do you know why the queer movement, the trans crowd, the abortion industry, and many others do not believe they have to change their ways to be saved?

Because they look into the Church, and they see the so-called Christians and they do not see changed lives.

Now it is true that we cannot make everlasting changes to our lives because it is the job of the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us at salvation.

He has regenerative power, but we must be willing!

It is that changed life that shows the power of God!

We cannot neglect proclaiming the works of repentance!

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

Isa 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

You, without the Lord God of the Bible cannot accomplish anything worth speaking of!

There is no salvation apart from a life of righteousness, that righteousness according to the Word of God!

Religion, ritual, ceremony, church membership, baptism, worship attendance, heritage, good parents, morality, and many other things are meaningless, without a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is faith and repentance that shows our love for Jesus Christ!

Who would want to be in a Church where you do not have to change your wicked ways? Not me!

This is saying that the Word of God has no meaning!

Who wants to go to a Heaven that is just like this world? Not me!

This is saying that Christianity is just like all the false religions of this world.

Why was Paul being persecuted? Because he was obedient to the Lord's call to preach the truth.

The world does not want to hear the truth!

What was the message of the Apostle Paul?

That men and women, queers, abortionist, drunks, immoral people, transgenders and all the lost should repent, turn to God, and do good works as described in the Word of God.

Paul was the Lord's witness in teaching these things.

Paul had this same message to the lowest of humans upon this earth and those who sat on thrones!

Paul added that they need look no further than himself to see that God takes care of His children.

God cares for us even when no one upon this earth does!

As true believers, we can always count on our Lord God!

God does sometimes allow trials to come into our lives to make us tougher in facing the reality of this cruel world.

The Lord Jesus Christ also suffered on this earth at the hands of cruel men, as our example of the suffering we may have to go through.

Paul did not select his audience, he witnessed  to those who stood in front of him at any given time.

He showed respect to the king for his position, but the message of Jesus Christ did not change because he was a king, or a Caesar, or the title of any ruler, or for any religious man.

No one is exempt from the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

What was the truth for these Jews?

Paul bore witness to the Scriptures of the Messiah, the same Scriptures that the prophets and Moses used to say the Messiah would come.

1Th 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 

Paul bore witness of the death of our Savior.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

The death of Jesus Christ was ordained before God created this world!

There was no other way for God to save us, but by His death and He will explain that to us one day soon!

Paul bore witness to the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ had to be the first one to rise from His death.

He was the first fruit, the first in importance to the truth of God!

He never again had to die because another death would have no meaning!

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 

Lazarus rose from the dead, but Lazarus had to die again and there were others mentioned in the Bible and all these in this court room knew these things.

King Agrippa had never heard the Word of God preached in this manner and Festus could not accept these truths.

*****Act 26:24  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 

Act 26:25  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 

Act 26:26  For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 

We see that Festus could not accept the truth of the Scriptures. Festus was a Roman and knew truly little of the Hebrew people.

The idea of fulfilled prophecy, the resurrection of the dead, and this crucified Jew, giving light to the Roman world were foolishness to Festus.

Festus had no spiritual discernment because he had no knowledge of the one true God! 

The gods of Festus were all statues and imaginary, with no such power as this Christian God.

All the gods of this world's religions, besides Christianity are all also false gods.

Festus was saying to Paul that old book of writings had no meaning in the Roman dominated world.

The same thing is said today about the Word of God, but the Word of God is alive, and its meaning is truly clear in this world, for we are in the last days and the Word of God will become more meaningful as we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ.

Paul says. No, I am not mad Festus because the truth of God stands clearly opposed to falsehood.

The Word of God is real, the Word of God is fact, spoken in a world where lies dominate our existence, and riches rule our ways.

King Agrippa did have knowledge of the things Paul spoke of and Festus had no knowledge of those things.

None of these things were hidden from the ruler of Israel.

The Scriptures had predicted the coming of the Messiah and at least a few had gotten it right.

The news that what the Lord Jesus Christ had claimed, and His death and His resurrection, had swept through the whole country and Agrippa knew these things.

So Paul gets bolder.

*****Act 26:27  King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 

Act 26:28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 

There is a Christian song that is titled "Almost Persuaded" and it was written about these words of King Agrippa.

“Almost persuaded” now to believe.

“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive.

Seems now some soul to say,

“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,

Some more convenient day

On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;

“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;

Jesus invites you here,

Angels are ling’ring near,

Prayers rise from hearts so dear;

O wand’rer, come!

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!

“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!

“Almost” cannot avail;

“Almost” is but to fail!

Sad, sad, that bitter wail—

“Almost,” but lost!

So, what is a Christian or who is a Christian?

To be religious is one thing, but to be a Christian is much much different.

This is where the false Church has its problems.

There are many who belong to the Church, but they are not Christians.

In fact, my opinion or your opinion is irrelevant!

We have to go to the New Testament, the Word of God to get this answer!

A Christian is that person who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as the basis if his faith and the rule of his life!

The Lord Jesus Christ is our foundation onto which we shall build upon!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Law according to which we think, and we feel.

When we adopt Jesus Christ as the law of our thoughts and our feelings, then we must be Christians.

To be a Christian is to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ in His ways, not the ways of the world!

The Jews deny that Jesus was the Messiah so, they will always deny Christians are anything of value to God.

To the Jews those who followed Jesus were "the Way", or "that Way".

Should we be known as Christians?

When we study the Lord Jesus Christ and all that He is, and all that is said about Him, and His relation to God and to man, and see that these are the traits we need in our own lives, then we will see that we ought to be Christians. To be more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

These are the same things that were ordained by God from the beginning of creation!

When God said, "let us make man", I believe God meant, "let us make Christians".

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: 

The image of God is the image we see in the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are not made to be gods!

We can be made in the image, our character, like our God.

In respect to intelligence.

In respect of His moral nature.

In respect to righteousness.

In respect to true holiness.

In respect to life eternal.

We are to do our absolute best, to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in all His ways!

To King Agrippa, to become a Christian would seem to be a demotion from his current status as king.

This was the most critical moment in Agrippa's life, and he answered with "almost", as he was beginning to close his ears to the words of the Apostle Paul.

You see, when we are offered an opportunity to meet the Lord Jesus at Mount Calvary, we will have to make a discission about our destiny.

We cannot say that King Agrippa was almost a Christian because that person does not exist!

We cannot be almost Christians!

We must in every deed become a Christian!

If we believe the Bible is indeed the Word of God, then how can we deny the fact that we need to be like Jesus Christ.

If we reject becoming a Christian, then we are saying the Bible is a book of lies!

How did Paul respond?

*****Act 26:29  And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 

An almost Christian, is someone who wavers between Jesus Christ and the world.

Paul said; you have to move from being almost persuaded to altogether persuaded, before you can become a Christian.

There are many false notions of Christianity.

Many believe to be a Christian is having a free ticket to sin and then be forgiven but this is not true.

Rom_6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

God forbids Christians to intentionally sin and then beg for forgiveness!

We live in a pleasure mad society, and it is this pleasure of sinning that the lost refuse to give up, even though God says that pleasure will not last very long.

Yes, to be a Christian there will be suffering in this life!

Heb_11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

To be become a Christian is by "Grace", a free gift, because it is God's Will that we all become Christians.

That is being like the Lord Jesus Christ in all our ways!

There is a great danger than some with a vast knowledge of the Scriptures may never seek a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

This sounds like King Agrippa.

If we have been on a long journey and finding that we are near to the end brings great comfort, but to almost be a Christian should bring no comfort at all because, it is still rejection of the truth of God!

We should remember the story of the Ten Virgins.

Mat 25:1  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 

Mat 25:2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

Mat 25:3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 

Mat 25:4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

Mat 25:5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 

Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 

Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 

Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 

Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 

Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 

All ten of these were virgins, but five of them did not the Holy Spirit (oil) living within them which means they had rejected the truth of God and God had never signed their names in His Book of Life so, He did not know them.

We cannot just live a pure life; we must accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ to be a child of God!

King Agrippa died and went to Hell, because even knowing the truth of the Scriptures, he could not give up the pleasures of this world even though they can last no more than a lifetime and usually not near that long.

Amen